Punjab Assembly’s 11th session : Gambling in DHA?

[LahoreEstate]

* MPA Mian Naseer asks about presence of 50 to 100 gambling dens, police supporting bookies
* Department says no booking house in DHA, only two cases registered in area

By Rana Kashif

LAHORE: Gambling in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) remained a hot topic during the Punjab Assembly (PA) proceedings on Wednesday, which was initiated in response to a question put by a member of the treasury benches regarding the details of booking houses in the area.

Member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) Mian Naseer Ahmad asked if the information was correct that approximately 50 to 100 gamblers (bookies) had established booking houses in the DHA and other posh localities adjacent to the housing society. He also asked if it was correct that officials of the police stations concerned got commission from the gamblers and supported them. He also asked about the number of raids conducted on booking houses in the DHA and adjoining posh localities after 2003, the number of gamblers arrested, the number of cases registered and the number of gamblers or bookies who were punished.

No den: A reply from the Interior Department said according to the report of the superintendent of police (SP) concerned, there was no booking house in the DHA or its adjoining posh localities. The House was also informed that neither any raid was conducted, nor a case was registered. It was also informed that no police official had gotten commission or supported any gambler or bookie.

However, according to the report, only two cases of gambling were registered; one in Defence-A in which Rs 32,530 were recovered and the other in Defence-B in which Rs 2,920 were recovered. It also stated that both the said cases were being heard in courts, the House was informed.

Hearing the reply, Naseer asked if any legal action had been taken against the gambling taking place through telephones, at which Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the police had a call-tracing system, but it was only being used to trace terrorists. He said if the system was used to chase gamblers, it would create problems.

MPA Hafiz Nauman said a huge amount changed hands on every horse race, at which the law minister said some horse-racing clubs practiced it within the boundaries of the clubs, claiming that it was just racing. He said action could not be taken against them without any justification or solid proof, adding that legal proceedings should be initiated against anyone involved in the activity.

Denying the report that there was no gambling den in the area, MPA Yasin Sohal said the police supported gambling. The law minister abruptly asked what the police could do where influential people were involved.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_3